Crime wave in Oliver B.C. has business owners frustrated, asking for help

A crime wave that is sweeping through the town of Oliver in the south Okanagan has business owners asking both the city and the RCMP for help.

Dennis Munckhof, who runs a farm equipment design and manufacturing company, says over 30 businesses have been broken into, robbed or vandalized recently, and that efforts to stop the prolific thieves aren't working.

"[Businesses] have fenced their yard. There's barbed wire, lighting, security systems," said Munckhof. "People have invested in cameras and guard dogs."

Dennis Knechtel of Outreach Neon says both he and a colleague had trucks stolen out of a locked compound last weekend.

Knechtel's vehicle was recovered, but only because it had been abandoned after a crash on the outskirts of town. The truck had been stripped of its signage and custom equipment, and is now a total write-off. The second truck is still missing.

"Every now and then we get these waves of crime," said Knechtel. "A number of years back we were broken into six times, but for years before and after we didn't have a single incident."

Petition calls for action

Knechtel believe the criminals know that police staffing levels are low and take advantage of it.

That is why he's signed a petition that was presented to Oliver city council this week, asking for more RCMP staffing, and other measures like better street lighting, to try and stop the crime wave.

Last week ten area wineries presented a similar petition to B.C.'s attorney general.

Oliver RCMP Sgt. Blaine Gervias says the detachment routinely reviews resource levels, and that officers are investigating the break and enters.

"There's a huge frustration with our taxpayers and our business owners," said Oliver Mayor Ron Hovanes.

"We just really have to keep sending our message to the province until we get some support."